Colonic irrigating table



Oct. 17, 1939. c. A RD 2,176,235

COLONIG IRRIGATING TABLE Filed Dec 19, 1936 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for irrigating the colon in the treatment of a large number of diseased conditions within the human body.

A comfortable relaxed patient is an essential factor in effective colonic irrigation because any undue irritation tends to induce contraction of the muscles. Hence, the primary object of this invention is to avoid pain and unnecessary discomfort to the patient.

To this end the object is to comfortably support the buttocks and thighs of the patient in a relatively fixed position and provide means for lowering and raising the upper part of the body to 1 aid the inflow of water into the colon without the use of a colon tube to irritate the lining.

A further principal object is to introduce water or other irrigating liquid into the colon through a thin rigid speculum, subject to control of flow by a valve, to distend the colon to the point of evacuation without the removal of the speculum, and cause the colon to be emptied by automatically repeated evacuations whereby the inflow of liquid is carried higher after each evacuation until the upper colon, including the ceacum, is

irrigated and emptied.

I. accomplish the above principal objects and minor ones relating to details which will be hereinafter pointed out and embodied in the claims, by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawingyin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus in operative position; v

Fig. 2,is a detail in vertical section showing 1 the buttock and thigh support, receptacle into which the feces and liquids are discharged and hinge-connection permitting adjustment of the back support, and

Fig. 3 is a fragment showing a top plan view of the waste receptacle and drainage channel discharging therein and parts adjacent thereto.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

A table 2 is supported on a frame comprising a pair of rear vertical legs 3, lower horizontal bar 4, front vertical leg 5, shorter than legs 3, intermediate posts 6, resting upon the bars 4, horizontal bars 1 connecting the tops of legs 5 and posts 6, horizontal bars 8 connecting the tops of short legs 5 with the intermediate post 6, and cross bars connecting the two legs of the leg pairs 3 and 5. V

A vertically adjustable back support 9 is jointed by hinge ID to the table 2 to be swung between limits considerably above a horizontal position to a lower than a horizontal position, the horizontal position being permitted as well as limited by the height of the short legs 5.

Ears II depending from the under side of the back 9 are pivoted to the upper ends of link bars l2. 'The lower ends of the link bars are pivoted to blocks [3. The blocks l3 have threaded holes through which pass threaded horizontal shafts M. The shafts are journaled at each end in bearings supported by posts 6, at their inner ends, and legs 5 at their outer ends. Fixed on each shaft near the outer end thereof are bevel gear wheels l5 that mesh with respective bevel wheels l6 fixed on a transverse shaft I! having a crank I8 by which it is manually rotated, thereby rotating shafts M to move blocks 13 and raise or lower the back 9, depending upon the direction in which the crank is turned by the operator.

If desired the threads may be omitted from one of the blocks and one of the shafts. The back is provided with cushioned upholstering for the comfort of the patient. Seated in a suitable opening cut through the table 2 is a feces-andliquid receptacle l9, preferably made of sheet metal. It is here shown as half round in cross section at the rear and flat or straight across in front with a funnel shaped bottom 19 which drains into a waste pipe 20 discharging into a removable slop jar 2|, or into a sewer if the latter is available. The slop jar is seated on the platform 2 which is supported by the frame of the table.

Extending forward from the bottom of the receptacle l9 and draining into the hopper is a sheet metal channel 22, the sides of which extend several inches above the top of the table for approximately half of its length in front with horizontal edges and thence obliquely to near the top of the receptacle at its rear portion as shown at 22'.

On each side and in front of the horizontal edge of the channel is an equally raised and rearwardly sloping metal surface 23 which forms a support for a U-shape cushion 24 extending from close to the cushion on back 9.

The cushion-supporting metal surface is continued upwardly and obliquely toward the receptacle l9, adjacent the rear oblique extensions of the walls of the metal channel, and cushionextensions 24' preferably hinged to the ends of cushion 24, are supported upon these oblique surface extensions.

The buttocks and hips of the patient are supported on cushion 24 and its extensions 24' and an unobstructed drainage space defined by the channel 22 and discharging into the receptacle I9, is always provided by the parts as above described. The metal supports for cushion 25 and its extensions are flanged at their edges 25, to

, removably secure the cushions which are removably seated between the flanges.

The table 2 and back 9 are preferably finished with a waterproof covering which will permit of their thorough scrubbing for sanitary purposes. The upper surface of the back 9 is raised several inches above the table 2, cushion 24 and cushion supports 23, as shown in Fig. 2, to give slope to the body of the patient for proper evacuationv and to provide room above the table 22 for the discharge of the feces by gravity without flushing out with water.

Supported by the table 2, or cross bar of the frame immediately thereunder, is a stand-pipe 26 which is closed at upper and lower ends. A hot water supply pipe 26' discharges into pipe 26, as also does a cold Water pipe 21, and flow through each pipe is regulated by respective valves 28 and 29.

Supported by the pipe 26 areliquid holding receptacles, here shown as two in number, 30 and 3!, but there may be only one or more than two. These receptacles contain water of a temperature measured by a thermometer 32 and controlled by the valves 28 and 29 or they may contain a medicated liquid; the temperature is also measured by the thermometer, and connection with the interior of pipe 26 is through orifices controlled by valves 33 and 34. A discharge to the patient from receptacles 30 and 3! either one or both as controlled by valves 33 and 34 with valves 28 and 29 closed, is through a flexible rubber pipe 35 and a thin rigid speculum 36. This discharge is controlled by the valve 3?. A pipe 38, of any desired length to reach all parts of the table 2 and back 9 is provided for the supply of water to be used in scrubbing all parts of the apparatus, from Water supplied through pipes 26 and 21, after valves 33, 34 and 31 have been closed, and valves 23 and 29 appropriately opened. I

In the operation of my apparatus, the patient is placed with the buttocks on the cushion 24 sloping toward the receptacle l9 and thighs against the extensions 24, with legs on each side of the receptacle and feet resting on the table. The back 9 will preferably be inclined upwardly with the back of the patient resting upon it to also slope toward the receptacle I9. By a proper manipulation of the valves in the pipes, plain or medicated Water of the desired temperature, is

introduced into the colon through pipe 35 and speculum 36 and the patient tilted downwardly by the manipulation of the crank l8 to aid the flow of liquid into the colon. This is facilitated by alternate raising and lowering of the back. Evacuation of the feces will follow, and discharge through the channel 22 into the hopper l9 and thence to receptacle 2| or to the sewer will take place.

This filling and evacuation of the colon may be repeated without the removal of the speculum which will automatically cause an evacuation until the upper colon and ceacum are irrigated and emptied and thoroughly medicated.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the best form now known to me it is obvious that structural variations may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention and I, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a colonic irrigating means, a table hinged to a support at one end, a pair of laterally spaced apart buttock supports fixed in position to extend upwardly and away from the hinged end of said table, a receptacle fixed in position forwardly of and beyond said supports, a tray under the supports and sloping into said receptacle, said receptacle having a vertically disposed opening on its side toward said table extending downwardly to at least the top of said table and also having a top opening forwardly of the supports, and a wall at the forward end of the receptacle extending a distance above the table hinge line.

2. In a colonic irrigating means, a table hinged to a support at one end, a pair of laterally spaced apart buttock supports fixed in position to extend upwardly and away from the hinged end of said table, a receptacle fixed in position forwardly of and beyond said supports, a tray under the supports and sloping into said receptacle, said receptacle having a vertically disposed opening on its side toward said table extending downwardly to at least the top of said table and also having a top opening forwardly of the supports, and a wall at the forward end of the receptacle extending a distance above the table hinge line, a fixed U-shaped cushion at the end of said table at its hinge line having forwardly extending spaced apart legs, said supports extending respectively from said legs, and said tray extending between the cushion legs.

CHARLES A. WOODARD. 

